Yamafu Military Affairs

Chapter 680 Su Xuan
"Old Yang's house?"

Xiao Yi was taken aback, his tone somewhat uncertain: "I heard from the shopkeeper that his father was once a high-ranking official in the imperial court, but the family fell into decline after the capital moved south, and he became a coachman. I don't know anything else."

"I see, I understand. Xiao Yi, you should go to bed early too."

Seeing that he couldn't get any more information from the restaurant staff, Qin Wen didn't dwell on it. He quickly returned to his room, used a wisp of his True Qi to condense water and start a fire, stripped naked, and soaked in the bathtub, pondering what he should do next.

The information gathered during the visit to the old courtyard tonight was quite varied. The most useful information was that Master Mei had sent Chen Yun to Songjiang Prefecture to slay the snake, and that Chen Yun had met Master Wu, the Crane-Clad Envoy of Dengzhen Pagoda.

After much deliberation, Qin Wen still felt that he should go to the Su Xuan Temple in Jinling first to meet the Purple Void Lord.

Although facing a genuine member of the Xuanpin Sect carries considerable risk, Qin Wen, who has witnessed the immeasurable power of Wei Wuliang, knows that this Zixu Jun is at most a Seven Palaces True Person and should not be able to see through his current disguise.

Back in the Great Western Era, Qin Huai knew that the strength of the Sichen and Siming varied, as did the saints under their command. Someone like Qin Wu, with his shallow foundation, was at most a beginner in the Seven Palaces, completely incomparable to someone like King Yu, who was at the peak of the Six Departments. As for the Blood Asura's Slaughter Saints, the requirements were even higher. Even a bloodthirsty butcher like Zhang Xianzhong had to prepare for a long time before he could ascend to immortality through blood.

Of course, the more one accumulates, the stronger one becomes once ascension is successful. Someone like the Great Western King, who is at the peak of the Seven Palaces, and who mobilizes the entire nation to facilitate the blood transfusion, would likely be no less powerful or influential than the Snake City King Yu.

Only in this way will the two Sichen, Xue Xiuluo and Ba Hui, personally intervene to help Da Xi stop the other Sichen who come to cause trouble.

As for Ti Wuliang and Wei Wuliang, Qin Huai deduced from his own eyesight that they were at most the peak of the Six Departments, comparable to Yu Wang and Zhang Xianzhong, only slightly weaker than Gu Shen, and not too troublesome.

"Just to be on the safe side, let me hold the Seven-Seven Umbrella and provide some protection."

Having made up his mind, Qin Wen did not delay any longer. When the rooster crowed and dawn broke, he changed into his ceremonial robes and, according to the map of Jinling, headed towards Su Xuan Temple, the most popular temple in the outer city.

Before even seeing the Taoist temple, Qin Wen heard the clear sound of bells echoing in the drizzling rain, and the spacious streets began to get crowded.

There were old men, women, adults, children, all sorts of people.

Looking at the fine silks and satins they wore, and the sandalwood baskets carried by their servants, Qin Wen knew that these people were either very rich or noble, or they were devout followers of Taoism.

As Qin Wen approached the mountain gate with his oil-paper umbrella, he noticed that although there was still a light breeze and drizzle in Jinling, very few of the mortal believers who came to pay homage used umbrellas. Instead, they mostly extended their hands to reveal the vermilion talisman on their wrists and arms, and performed an eighth-grade "non-weather protection" spell. Even without an umbrella, they would not get wet. However, the incense money spent on this spell alone was enough to buy more than a dozen good umbrellas.

From this glimpse alone, Qin Wen gained a general impression of the Su Xuan Temple.

In Qin Wen's memory, most Taoist temples were built on mountains, while those built in cities were relatively rare, and those integrated into the secular world were even rarer.

Perhaps it was because of Qin Wen's attire that, with the initiative of several upright officials and gentry, the crowded street crowd managed to clear a narrow path for him to pass through.

Qin Wen walked past with a smile, then turned a corner, and suddenly the view opened up before him.

Clean and tidy stone slabs are laid all the way down to the wide steps, and at the end of these hundred or so steps, a Taoist temple complex shrouded in mist and rain, with green bricks and gray tiles, comes into view.

Above the towering mountain gate is a black plaque with three gilded characters: Su Xuan Temple.

First line: Having accumulated three thousand merits, he rides a phoenix to the azure sky in broad daylight. Second line: With the ancient altar still standing, future generations will believe in the existence of immortals.

Under the blazing incense smoke, the entire Taoist temple was shrouded in a thick cloud of smoke, appearing otherworldly and ethereal. "Su Xuan, is this Wei Wuliang's real name and Taoist title?"

Qin Wen glanced at the crowded flow of people. Taotie was standing in the middle, holding a huge black umbrella. The many believers around him did not seem to notice anything unusual, as if they could not sense him or the space he was in.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Qin Wen took light steps and walked towards the crowded steps.

Following the many believers, we walked through the mountain gate, where several grand halls came into view. Among them, the most eye-catching was a stone pool that was simple yet ingenious, with a deep blue color.

"The cave is dark and cold, the wind is clear and crisp. The immortal abode is forever destroyed, and the flowers and trees flourish forever."

Reading the inscription on the medicine-washing pool, Qin Wen glanced at the main hall not far away. Before he could make a move, a young Taoist boy with red lips and white teeth approached him. After all, even in the crowded throng, his attire was too eye-catching.

"I am Qingyun, a humble Daoist, and I greet my Martial Uncle Miaoxuan."

A melodious, bell-like voice rang out. Qin Wen saw the young Taoist boy bow to him and returned the bow, asking, "Little Master, do you know Miao Xuan?"

"Uncle Wu came here late last night to inform Abbot Zixu of your visit to Suxuan Temple this morning. This way, please."

Looking around at the bustling crowd, Qin Wen nodded slightly and followed her toward the side door.

Looking at the indigo-colored Hunyuan scarf on the head of the young Taoist boy in front of him, Taotie, who was holding the Qiqi umbrella as if he were in an empty place, began to carefully sense the energy of the entire Taoist temple, trying to find out the possible spiritual power.

The three of them moved among the palaces, and the noise of the crowd at the entrance gradually subsided. Finally, the young Taoist led Qin Wen into a rather quiet garden and stopped in front of a simple thatched hut.

"Please, Uncle-Master."

The young Taoist priest stood to the side of the door, respectfully inviting Qin Wen inside.

Qin Wen folded the umbrella and placed it under the eaves. Through the beaded curtain at the door, he could see a faceless deity with flowing robes and three heads on the altar inside.

On the prayer mat in front of the statue sat a figure dressed in purple and gold robes, with an exquisitely crafted lotus-shaped golden crown on her head.

Out of the corner of his eye, Qin Wen glanced at the faceless statue. For some reason, he felt that this uniquely shaped thing was watching him, which made him unconsciously slow his pace.

"Mysterious?"

As she said this, the female Taoist priest, who was sitting cross-legged on the futon, slowly turned around.

Qin Wen was taken aback when he saw the female Taoist priest's appearance.

It was an old woman with white hair and beard. What was surprising was not her delicate skin that was almost flawless, but that she had a face that was eight parts similar to my own!

If Qin Wen hadn't been a host body personally created by Qin Huai using Kunlun, he would have even doubted the relationship between the person in front of him and Wei Wuliang.

(End of this chapter)